Cheerleading today begins pre womb. There is a potential mommy out there with big plans. Preparation begins with the first sonogram verifying the gentler gender. Mantras to the womb----"You are a CHEERLEADER, You are a CHEERLEADER, You are a CHEERLEADER"
whilst giant pom poms wave seductively over the growing fetus. Soon after birth it's Mommy & Me tumbling classes, toddler gymnastics, preschool "movement" classes, elementary school dance----ballet for grace, jazz for expression, tap for spunk AND the ongoing gymnastics and tumbling classes----THEN actual cheerleading academies, with team experience and local, state, and national competitions-------strength and conditioning classes----nutritional consultants----hair & makeup consultants----a life coach---and by the time high school tryouts come along, a therapist on call. I forgot about the dermatologist and the orthodontist and the style consultant.
Let's fastback to 1960-61. Here's what I remember:
"Hey! They're having cheerleader tryouts next week. Why don't you try out?"
"Okay. I guess I could do that."
The tryouts were on the STAGE in the AUDITORIUM--------very scary-----in front of the whole school! What was I thinking? I don't remember what we wore, but I'm guessing it was jeans, maybe a sweatshirt, and "tennis" shoes, either from J.C.Penney's or Montgomery Ward's because that was all there was. I think most of us trying out did the same yell, TWO BITS, FOUR BITS!
I wish I had Jennifer and Mike's ability to remember the details. I do remember that I was totally surprised to be chosen. When I told my mom she said "That's nice." (No bouquet of roses or limo ride home to a confetti strewn path, as you might find today)
I do remember that as a group we had a great time together. Our squad consisted of Judy Rutledge, Joy Schaefer, Marilyn Harp, Celia Farha, Sue Sims, Pat Harmon, DeeDee Arrington and myself. As far as I know, none of us had been groomed to do anything but go to school, stay out of trouble, and have fun.
We went to a cheerleading camp at SMU that summer. I think it was the first trip for CHS cheerleaders. It was definitely eye opening for us. We had seen the city and there was no turning back. We had eaten PIZZA----we learned to TEASE our hair----we stayed in a DORM----we actually learned new yells-----we found out we were no competition in our field. Our collective jaws dropped as we watched big squads from city schools flip, split, tumble, and spring in perfect unison wearing factory made-to-order uniforms We couldn't go home empty handed, so we plotted to win the best spirit stick, which we did by being overly friendly and peppy and gushing over everyone else's performances.
We vowed to improve-----we practiced------we tried our hardest------but most memorable is the fun we had. I remember lots of giggles. If we had any squabbles among us, I don't remember them. I thought leading students through the halls to the pep rally was the coolest thing we did-----getting to make all that noise in the halls! We probably thought we were pretty special to be on the football field and the basketball court trying to get the crowd motivated.
Cheerleaders our junior year were Judy Rutledge, Sue Sims, Joy Schaefer, Pat Harmon, Gay Morris and myself. Our senior year: Pat Harmon, head cheerleader, Gay Morris, Judy Wilson, Arlyna Caradine, Linda DeArmond and myself. Fondest thoughts go to Mr. & Mrs. Harmon for hauling us around cheerfully on SO many occasions.
whilst giant pom poms wave seductively over the growing fetus. Soon after birth it's Mommy & Me tumbling classes, toddler gymnastics, preschool "movement" classes, elementary school dance----ballet for grace, jazz for expression, tap for spunk AND the ongoing gymnastics and tumbling classes----THEN actual cheerleading academies, with team experience and local, state, and national competitions-------strength and conditioning classes----nutritional consultants----hair & makeup consultants----a life coach---and by the time high school tryouts come along, a therapist on call. I forgot about the dermatologist and the orthodontist and the style consultant.
Let's fastback to 1960-61. Here's what I remember:"Hey! They're having cheerleader tryouts next week. Why don't you try out?"
"Okay. I guess I could do that."
The tryouts were on the STAGE in the AUDITORIUM--------very scary-----in front of the whole school! What was I thinking? I don't remember what we wore, but I'm guessing it was jeans, maybe a sweatshirt, and "tennis" shoes, either from J.C.Penney's or Montgomery Ward's because that was all there was. I think most of us trying out did the same yell, TWO BITS, FOUR BITS!
I wish I had Jennifer and Mike's ability to remember the details. I do remember that I was totally surprised to be chosen. When I told my mom she said "That's nice." (No bouquet of roses or limo ride home to a confetti strewn path, as you might find today)
I do remember that as a group we had a great time together. Our squad consisted of Judy Rutledge, Joy Schaefer, Marilyn Harp, Celia Farha, Sue Sims, Pat Harmon, DeeDee Arrington and myself. As far as I know, none of us had been groomed to do anything but go to school, stay out of trouble, and have fun.
We went to a cheerleading camp at SMU that summer. I think it was the first trip for CHS cheerleaders. It was definitely eye opening for us. We had seen the city and there was no turning back. We had eaten PIZZA----we learned to TEASE our hair----we stayed in a DORM----we actually learned new yells-----we found out we were no competition in our field. Our collective jaws dropped as we watched big squads from city schools flip, split, tumble, and spring in perfect unison wearing factory made-to-order uniforms We couldn't go home empty handed, so we plotted to win the best spirit stick, which we did by being overly friendly and peppy and gushing over everyone else's performances.
We vowed to improve-----we practiced------we tried our hardest------but most memorable is the fun we had. I remember lots of giggles. If we had any squabbles among us, I don't remember them. I thought leading students through the halls to the pep rally was the coolest thing we did-----getting to make all that noise in the halls! We probably thought we were pretty special to be on the football field and the basketball court trying to get the crowd motivated.
Cheerleaders our junior year were Judy Rutledge, Sue Sims, Joy Schaefer, Pat Harmon, Gay Morris and myself. Our senior year: Pat Harmon, head cheerleader, Gay Morris, Judy Wilson, Arlyna Caradine, Linda DeArmond and myself. Fondest thoughts go to Mr. & Mrs. Harmon for hauling us around cheerfully on SO many occasions.
SMU cheerleading school, summer of 1960. Judy Rutledge doing a backbend, Marilyn Harp doing splits, on left Sue Sims, on right Celia Farha, DeeDee Arrington behind Celia, Pat Harmon peeking through legs, the legs in the air are Joy Schaefer and myself----don't know which is which-----I'm guessing I'm on the right.
Childress High School cheerleader, ca. 1942
Billie Janice Harp (Jennifer's mother)
This photo of Jennifer's mother makes a great addition to Clara A. R. Meek: Cheerleading-----A Comparative Study (Today and the Dark Ages)
Childress High School cheerleader, ca. 1942
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7 comments:
Oh, groan... (and grin) Come on, Clara ... you didn't really think you were going to sneak that line ... about "Mr. and Mrs. Harmon ... hauling us around CHEERfully" (emphasis added) ... without comment, did you??? We here at the blog are enlightened and AWARE beings....
Aside from (indeed even including) the attempted "cheerleader sneak" play, your post is super ... and we thank you for helping fill in more pieces in the mosaic of our years at CHS. It sounds like you guys had a lot of fun and have some great memories of those days. If you recall more (I always think of something else I should have said ... or maybe otherwise ... after I post), I hope you'll add to the story.
Your "voice" and your observations are always welcome, and always received with delight. Hope you'll come back more often....
)O(
Clara,
As I told you earlier, Jim and I really did enjoy your story of the cheerleader in the womb. We laughed and laughed even though we have both seen versions of this in real life as we have worked with high school kids and athletics.
You did a great job of comparing the dark ages with today. The dark ages were a much simpler time weren't they?
Thanks for sharing and I can't wait to hear more stories from you!
Clara, I remember those tryouts! It was the one and ONLY time I tried out for cheerleader! While I was trying out, the crowd got away from me...I couldn't lead them, they were leading me! I was having to move faster than I had planned just to keep up with them. It was at that point that I knew I could never be a cheerleader. I always thought you were an excellent cheerleader and you took to the sport like a duck to water!
I also remember that trip to Dallas/SMU...I think the cheerleaders and twirlers went together on the train?
That trip holds two life altering experience for me. I discovered clear ice which came with the cleanest Iced Tea I had every put in my mouth! I must have drunk 10 gallons of tea during our stay. I just couldn't get enough! Maybe the tea was finally quinching my thirst that I had been working on for about 14 years!
Also, there was a football team of what appeared to me to be giants, practicing on one of the fields. Thinking that they were from some competitive high school, I asked someone what/who they were and was told that they were from a place called Greenbay, Wisconson and were called the Greenbay Packers. Never in my life had I ever seen such huge bodies! I had never seen a professional football player before, so I just figured that people in Greenbay were just extremely huge. My sudden rush of fear subsided when I realized that these giants were not in high school and would not be smashing our Childress boys.
I have enjoyed your story and can visualize those cheerleader moms, along with the soccer moms, pageant moms, football/baseball mom dads and whatever else moms/dads. You have drawn a perfect picture. I am surprised that those little babies are not born with pom-poms in their hands!
Clara, you all seemed to be having so much fun. I enjoyed to times we would sit impatiently waiting for the cheerleaders to past our door so we could join in. We could hear you coming, why did it take so long?
waaaaaaalllll....Clara...firstly....I really really enjoyed your story......i was always surprised you did not try out as a freshman.....I also remember seeing you, as a freshman, playing the trombone in the band...at a football game......I could not believe you could learn to play an instrument that quick.....great picute of you jumping up'n tha air......actually that picture of you is exactly the way I remember you as we were growing up...........man oh man...you nailed it about cheerleader in the womb........my daughter went thru all that from 4 years old until she became a cheerleader at cy-fair high school.....i was about half disappointed because the was about to become a starter on the cy-fair volleyball team.....(always a state contender)....and gave it up for cheerleading.....cheerleading camps.....national competition.....all the stuff you describe......i always thought that becoming a 5A cheerleader was as competitvie as becoming the starting quarterback for a 5A team....tough tough tough i'll tell ya....
so please.....can we have some more stories from you.....when other people tell stories it always triggers my memory.....Sprad
Mike-----thank heavens it appears I didn't offend you with the "cheerleading today" comparison. I no sooner wrote it than I thought one of my peers probably had a cheerleader in the family and might not be amused by my analysis, which was more an effort to write something clever. As Nicki said, the same comparison could be made with any sport in a 4A or 5A school.
Competition is so stiff to make a team of any kind. Training begins WAY early for each. You are right to compare the 5A quarterback to the cheerleader. You can be very proud of your daughter---I rank them with swimmers as the hardest working teams.
It was definitely much simpler in our day in our small town/school (thank heavens for it!). We had opportunities to be involved in so many things that in today's world we might be ill equiped.
You said you were surprised I didn't try out for cheerleader as a freshman------I think I did---and didn't make it---and I loved my trombone!
Nope Clara....can't offend me....when my daughter won...her best friend Christian did not win....she was absolutely devasated..destroyed....but Christian stayed on the volleyball team....won a full volleyball scholarship to T-Tech..(her family would never been able to send her to college).........met a guy at Tech who became a surgeon....now she is rich....(so be careful about what you wish for, huh?)
I sure loved watching my daughter play volleyball.....but actually....she was a very good cheerleader too...big time gymnast....I know my kids were in High School before I ever told them I was a cheerleader......they were gob-smacked!!!
.....Sprad
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